Whether a player takes a bit longer for a bathroom break to have the sun not bother him or whether a player takes a MTO for a injury that perhaps could have waited, it's gamesmanship. Federer even admitted as such when asked about it. He has every right to take a bathroom break like that under the rules. If you watched the match and saw the reactions about that break, it was pretty clear that there was a reason when that bathroom break occurred. Pretty obvious. Azarenka also has the right to take a MTO if she thinks there could be a physical issue. Both are ok under the rules. Enforcement in such situations, even if you have rule modifications will always be an issue. Players use things like that to try and disrupt flow and when that happens the other player just has to deal with it and not allow it to impact the level of play.

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An easy rule change would be to allow one timeout per set. You can use it in between any game for whatever you like: regain your composure, ice your opponent, treat an injury, use the toilet etc. Then it would be like a timeout in other sports. No one would need to pretend to be injured, exaggerate an injury, pretend to need the toilet etc.

Years ago the NBA replaced the "injury" timeout with a 20 second timeout. Previous to that it was embarrassing to watch players pretend to be injured for a few seconds so they could call an injury timeout. The rule change was a huge improvement. It's just too difficult for players and officials to have to determine when someone is injured enough or needs the toilet enough to justify stopping play.

perhaps if there is a dire need for a medical timeout on the opponents serve, the player with the injury should concede the opponents service game so the timeout could take place before the injured player's own service game.

If you're cramping you either play or default
If you're hurt you either play or default
If you've suffered any loss of conditioning you play or default

The injury time out is the worst "innovation" in tennis and should be completely removed. The Japanese player, Shuzo Matsuoka, who cramped at the US Open had two choices, play or default. To his credit, he did everything he could to continue but couldn't. Whether or not he was in pain and suffering is not the issue. He could have defaulted. He had a choice.

The rule that was put in force to help a player like that is now being abused by players who think anything is fair and don't consider the nature of the game or ethics. The rule now gives the players a whole different choice. They can just stop play and claim an injury and ice their opponent.

If you're cramping you either play or default
If you're hurt you either play or default
If you've suffered any loss of conditioning you play or default

The injury time out is the worst "innovation" in tennis and should be completely removed. The Japanese player, Shuzo Matsuoka, who cramped at the US Open had two choices, play or default. To his credit, he did everything he could to continue but couldn't. Whether or not he was in pain and suffering is not the issue. He could have defaulted. He had a choice.

The rule that was put in force to help a player like that is now being abused by players who think anything is fair and don't consider the nature of the game or ethics. The rule now gives the players a whole different choice. They can just stop play and claim an injury and ice their opponent.

He need not shut up if he had been willing to say the some thing about Serena in the past

Fair enough sureshs, a very valid point you bring up:

"Hey Rambo Williams, about that bathroom break at the 2010 AO finals!!"

Victoria's Secret: I think she was simply too embarrassed to own up to the out-of-control flattuce that I (and others) clearly heard as she was walking off the court; it was in perfect sync with each step she took..bwaff!..bwaff!..bwaff!...

That said, it still was a sneaky (& stinky) move by the big lllama.
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Did you hear pat Mac dissing azi? He is the most unworthy person to accuse a slam champion of using a bush league tactic. Azi "might" of bent the rules but p Mac needs to shut up.

Also brad gilbert should understand the head games. He was all about that.

Now suddenly the rules need changing, right? Until the next time when an MTO benefits our player.

It's always unfortunate when this type of thing happens against American opponents, because then we have to inevitably endure the American tennis press/establishment stomp their hypocritical little feet over it.

Gamesmanship, that's all. What was against the rules with Azarenka that can be proven? There's room in both situations to basically ice the opponent. Azarenka likely did it and so did Federer with the "sun" problem.

How do you ice the opponent between sets, when there is already a break, between sets? The only thing this does is extends the existing break by a little bit...

If you are against MTOs, you should also be against this. If you can't hold it, then retire.

Exactly. Because you can abuse a bathroom break too, to disturb the rhythm of the match. Did the player really have to go? I guess officials can do a 'bowl check' to make sure; if a player flushes before the check it's a point penalty.